RES Sells Large 245MWdc Australian Solar Farm to Iberdrola

UK renewable company RES has sold its Avonlie solar development project to Spanish electric utility Iberdrola. The project is located in New South Wales, Australia, and is RES’ largest ever solar development with generating capacity standing at 245 MW dc / 190 MW ac.

When operational, 450,000 solar panels, mounted on single axis tracking system, are expected to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of around 80,000 New South Wales homes. This will avoid over 157,000 tonnes of carbon each year.

The project is now ready to go into construction, following several years of environmental surveys and extensive community consultation which received strong local support, says REC. The project received planning consent from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment in August 2019.

Lumea will deliver the grid connection services for the life of the project with construction expected to commence later this year, and energisation expected before the end of 2022.

Matt Rebbeck, RES’ CEO in Australia commented, “We are very pleased to continue our strong global relationship with Iberdrola and are excited to see the project progress with them. We would like to thank the forward-thinking NSW Department for Planning Industry and Environment, Lumea, the local Narrandera Shire Council and the local community who have shown huge support for this project.”

“Having delivered multiple large-scale renewable energy projects in Australia, with over 1.21GW of projects now in construction or operational, RES is delighted to progress another project in NSW. The Avonlie Solar Farm will create more than 230 full time local jobs during construction and provide significant regional benefits and deliver on our vision of a future where everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy.”

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Iberdrola Australia, Ross Rolfe, AO, said, “At Iberdrola Australia our strategy is to put customers at the centre of the energy transition. We are seeing a rapidly growing number of commercial and industrial customers adopting Net Zero targets and transitioning to one hundred per cent renewable electricity contracts.”

“At Iberdrola Australia we invest not only in low-cost renewables – like the 245MW Avonlie Solar Farm – but also flexible, fast start firming capacity, ensuring the electricity system remains reliable as renewable penetration grows. This optimised portfolio enables us to provide our growing customer base with long-term electricity contracts that are at once reliable, affordable and clean.”

Lumea’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Lowe said “We congratulate RES and Iberdrola on achieving this milestone. Lumea is delighted to continue our relationship with both customers and provide innovative technical solutions and commercial approaches required to quickly deliver reliable, renewable energy to the National Energy Market.”

The project will directly connect to a dual 132kV grid connection which passes through the project site.